I guess it depends on what sort of games you're playing, but isn't it possible for the lack of n-key rollover to be a problem? My understanding is that many of these keyboards fail to register inputs if too many keys are pressed at the same time.

Generally it's fine - in the 1990s barely anyone had a mechanical keyboard. Instead, game developers learned to test their products on the most common keyboard models. That's why so many games use WASD+Shift+Ctrl+Alt+Space and a handful of other keys in that area.

It doesn't look like they're hoping to play split-screen fighting games with both players using the same keyboard :)

Hmm, I've never had an issue with this.

We generally don't play competitively but we do play fast-paced FPS and such and I just don't recall this ever having come up. (We had the same keyboards in the last house FWIW.)

Edit: I was wrong.

> I recall reading something like 13 keys, and wondering what kind of lunatic tries to press 13 buttons at the same time.

My recollection was wrong though, and most keyboards support at least two keys held down at the same time (plus shift/alt/ctrl).

Yes, without an n-key rollover keyboard you run into situations where perhaps running diagonally, plus reloading or throwing a grenade won't register the last button press. (E.g. Shift + W + D + R/G) It's kind of infuriating to run into that problem on cheapo keyboards that have it.

he said they don't play competitive games.

Don't you run into issues with n-key rollover with those old membrane keyboards?

Nope, I've never experienced that issue, in a decade of using these keyboards for gaming.